Manufacturing & The Economy

To help contain the spread of COVID-19 aka coronavirus, manufacturers are calling on Congress and federal agencies to adopt numerous legislative and regulatory changes. Here are a few of the recommendations that the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has for the administration and legislators:

Provide a tax credit for employers who continue to pay workers who are quarantined.

Provide a tax credit for employers who continue to pay workers during periods that a business is forced to close temporarily.

Purchase and distribute to first-responders up-to-date safety gear, including respirators and other protective equipment.

Implement a protocol for mass distribution of home testing kits for this and future dangerous contagions.

Republicans in the U.S. Senate, such as Steve Daines (R-MT) who sits on the Finance Committee, have already expressed support for one of NAM's recommendations: a rollback of tariffs.

VMA supports NAM in this effort, and is working with its members to provide information helpful to them as they address COVID-19.